Suspension means for couch-hammocks.



I. E. PALMER.

SUSPENSION MEANS FOR COUGH HAMMOOKS. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 26, 1910.

980, 1 '71 Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

@-Illll TNR NoRRls l-zrz/u cu.. wAsmNswN. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E. PALMER CO., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application led July 26, 1910. Serial No. 573,847.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex Aand State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Suspension Means for Couch-Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to suspension means for couch hammocks and more particularly to means whereby the hammock may be elevated against or adjacent to a ceiling or overhead support, so as to be out of the way.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of couch hammock suspension means embodying my invention, the hammock being shown in position for use; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. l, the hammock being drawn into its elevated position; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one end of a couch hammock showing means for temporarily attaching one suspension end to the seating at the under side of the frame 3 Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are side and end elevations of one form of block and tackle which may be employed in the practice of my invention; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a hook which may be employed for temporarily connecting the suspension ends to the seating.

I contemplate the provision of suitable means for permitting couch hammocks when attached to overhead supports, such as the ceiling of a porch or room, to be elevated or drawn up out of the way.

Couch hammocks are provided with upstanding flexible suspension ends, usually of cloth, and to the upper edges of which are applied Stringing strands, such as cords or the like. These cords at their outer ends may be gathered into rings which may be directly attached to the points of support. Preferably, however, I provide cords or ropes provided with tackle blocks whereby the hammock may be suitably attached to a ceiling and elevated. Inasmuch, however, as the suspension ends are normally two or three feet in length, it is evident that even though the 'hammock be elevated by the tackle blocks and ropes, the body of the hammock depends sufiiciently from its suspension ends to be in the way of the occupants of the porch or room. In order to permit the hammock to be wholly out of the way, I have provided means for temporarily securing the suspension ends to the frame at points relatively remote from and beyond the normal points of connection of said ends to the frame. I provide means t'or hooking or otherwise detachably connecting the up er edges of the suspension ends to the un er face of the hammock, so as substantially to take up all or the greater part of the effective length of said ends, as will be more fully set forth.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the frame of the hammock is represented at l, it being composed preferably of side and end members suitably connected at their meeting ends. I provide any suitable type of seating Whether composed of cloth, wire, cords or the like, but have here shown a seating 2 composed of transverse and longitudinal wire links suitably connected in substantially rectangular form, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The hammock may be of any suitable type, as, for example, the Gloucester type, wherein the hammock body is continuous from end to end, but I have here shown the frame as having attached thereto by spreaders 3-3 separate suspension ends 4-4 having spreader-s 5 5 at their upper ends. If desired upstanding cloth sides 6, 6, may be provided in the usual manner. It is evident that in the type of hammock shown the seating 2 is exposed at the under side of the frame. In thek preferred type of my invention this is a matter of great importance, inasmuch as said seating, particularly when of the type shown, afords ready means for temporarily connecting the upper edges of the suspension endsto the under side of the seating for the purpose stated.

In order to permit the effective length of the suspension ends to be taken up when or prior to elevating the hammock from the position for use, I fold the flexible suspension ends 4 back underneath the frame, as represented in Fig. 3, and then reversely fold the spreaders 5 upon the suspension ends, so that the outer or normally upper V above the foot end.

edge of each spreader is directed toward the adjacent end of the frame. I then hook or otherwise detachably connect the spreaders 5 to the seating. Fo-r that purpose I have herein shown wire hooks 6 which may be of the form shown in Fig. 8, the ends 7 of said hooks being adapted to engage suitable transverse links of the seating and the end 8 of the hooks being adapted to engage the spreaders 5, so that they may be held snugly against the under face of the seating, substantially as shown( in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the suspension ends are folded back from the upper edges of the upstanding sides 6, but if the latter be not provided it is evident that said suspension ends may be folded still farther beneath the frame. The said suspension ends 4 while of suitable material are preferably of cloth and to thespreaders 5 thereof are attached the usual strands, cords or other stringing means 9,-which at their outer ends may be gathered into rings 10. When the ends 4 are folded back underneath the frame, the strandsor cords 9 may be extended about the ends of the frame and upward, as represented in Fig. 3, so as to be connected to the desired suspension points.

While the hammock may be connected by means of the suspension ends 4 and strands or cords 9, to any suitable overhead support, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2, tackle blocks 11, 11, secured to the ceiling 12, above the respective hammock ends and tackle blocks 13 of any suitable construction. Each tackle block 13 is provided with a hook 14, by which they may be connected to rings 10, at the upper ends o-f the cords or other stringing means 9. Each tackle block 13 is provided with a single disk 15. Either tackle block 11 or 11 may be secured above the head end of the hammock and the other I have here represented the tackle block 11 as secured above the head end. The tackle block 11 is provided with two plain disks or sheaves 16, 17 and the tackle block 11 is provided with a plain disk or sheave 18 and two clamping disks or sheaves I19, 20, the clamping grooves of said disks or sheaves 19, 2O extending in t-he same or opposite directions as desired.

The cord 21, at the foot end of the hammock, is secured to a ring or tackle block 13 at said end as shown. Saidcord is then passed upwardly and about disk or sheave 17 the tackle block 11 and passes over the` .clamping disk or sheave 2O and thence downwardly into position to be grasped, when it is desired to elevate or lower the hammock.

is secured to a ring of the tackle block13, at

said end as shown, and is then passed upwardly and about the disk or sheave 18 and then downwardly and about the disk or sheave 15 of the tackle block 13, and then upwardly and over the clamping disk or v sheave 19, and then downwardly in parallelhammock, the cords ends are drawn for-` ward until freed from the clamping position 8o and are then restored to a vertical position and paid out, until the hammock .is lowered to the desired position. It is evident that the hammock may be evenly lowered by paying out evenly on the rope ends 21, 22.

While I have herein described the suspension ends as temporarily connected to the seating of the hammock, where it is exposed at the under side of the frame, it is evident that the said suspension ends may be temporarily connected to any suitable part of the hammock, as, for example, directly to the frame itself in some suitable manner.

Preferably, however, the suspension ends are. Y.

temporarily connected to the seating as shown.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the hammock of any suitable construction may, in accordance with my invention, be readily elevated sufficiently above its normal position to be out of ,the way, and if desired may be drawn up fiat against the ceiling or other overhead support.l The tackle blocks, if employed, may be of any.

suitable type, and if employed provide means for quickly manipulating the hammock in elevating or lowering the same. The use of tackle blocks in conjunction with means for temporarily connecting the suspension ends to the frame or seating affords convenient and inexpensive means for manipulating the hammock to effectively raise or lower the same.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms-are employed, they are used in a generic and descrlptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. couch hammock comprising in combination, a. frame composed of side and end members having a seating secured thereto and exposed at the under side of the frame, normally upstanding flexible suspension ends secured at their lower parts to the end ing means connected to said ends to suspend the hammock both when the ends are detachably secured as described and when normally extended.

2. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame composed of side and end members, a flexible wire seating composed of transverse and longitudinal members secured thereto and exposed at its under side, normally upstanding cloth suspension ends secured at their lower parts to said frame and provided at their upper ends with suspen- Cir sion cords, and connecting means detachabl y to secure the upper parts of said suspension ends in collapsed condition to the under side of said seating, whereby said hammock may be suspended with its suspension ends normally extended or in collapsed condition.

3. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame composed of side and end members, a flexible wire seating composed of transverse and longitudinal members secured thereto and exposed at its under side, cloth suspension ends secured at their lower parts to said frame and normally upstanding above the frame, and provided at their upper edges with transverse spreaders and suspension cords, and connecting means detachably to secure said spreaders to said seating at the underside of the frame while permitting the continued suspension of the hammock by said cords whereby said hammock may be suspended with its suspension ends normally extended or in collapsed condition.

4. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame having separate suspension ends normally upstanding above the frame end provided with Stringing strands and connecting means detachably to secure the upper portions of said ends to the frame when folded thereunder while still permitting the continued suspension of the hammock by said strands.

5. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame having separate suspension ends normally upstanding above the frame end provided at their upper edges with transverse spreaders and suspension cords and hooks for detachably attaching said spreaders to the underside of said frame while permitting the continued suspension of the hammock by said suspension strands whereby the hammock may be suspended with its suspension ends normally extended or in a collapsed condition.

6. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame having suspension ends connected thereto and provided with stringing strands and means detachably to attach said suspension ends to said frame at points relatively remote from and beyond the normal points of connection while Permittin the continued suspension of the hammocr by said Stringing strands, whereby the effective length of said suspension ends is materially and temporarily shortened.

7 A couch hammock comprising in combination a 'frame provided with suspension means having normally upstanding portions above the frame, and connecting devices detachably to attach the said normally upstanding portions to the fiat portion of the hammock, whereby the height of the hammock is varied.

8. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame provided with suspension means having normally upstanding portions above the frame, said upstanding portions having Stringing strands, clamping tackle blocks and cords connecting said strands and an overhead support, and connecting means detachably to hold the said normally upstanding portions of said ends substantially flatwise against the flat portion of the hammock, without disengaging said stringing strands from said overhead support, whereby the height of the hammock is varied.

9. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame provided with suspension means having normally upstanding portions above the frame, Stringing strands attached to the upper ends of said upstanding portions, pulleys and cords to connect said Stringing strands with an over-head support, and connecting devices detachably to attach the said normally upstanding portions to the fiat portion of the hammock in a substantially flat condition, whereby the height of the hammock is varied.

10. A couch hammock comprising, in combination, a frame having suspension ends connected thereto at their lower portions and provided with Stringing means at their upper portions, and means detachably to hold said suspension ends in a collapsed condition while permitting the continued suspension of the hammock by said Stringing means, whereby the effective length of said suspension ends is materially and temporarily shortened.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses:

REVILO C. MARKHAM, InvINe U. TowNsnNn. 

